Coun Lucas had been the leader since May 2013 when she successfully defeated predecessor John Mutton, a vote which also saw Coun Phil Townshend take away Coun Duggins’ position as deputy leader of the council.

Coun Abdul Khan, who was appointed deputy leader following the death of Coun Phil Townshend last year, successfully held onto his position.

Councillors opposing Coun Lucas had cited unhappiness within the ranks over the handling of the decision to join the West Midlands Combined Authority and work more closely with Birmingham City Council and six other councils in the region.

It would seem many agreed and several readers posting on the Telegraph website welcomed Coun Lucas’ departure.

Eugene Austin said: “What a great day for me and Coventry, Coun Lucas ousted, let’s hope she resigns from the party altogether.”

Lynne26 said: “The combined authority may have been forced on us, but it was Ann Lucas who refused to consider any option other than joining Birmingham in West Midlands alliance.”

Graham Williams said: “Makes you wonder if the High Court’s decision on the pathetic saga of Ricoh Arena, ACL and Coventry City FC is due.

“What gets me though is that if councillors did not like what was being proposed eg combined authority etc why did they vote to say yes.”

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Rich Heneghan said: “You reap what you sow..now for her cronies to be ousted from the jobs they either abuse or are incompetent at.”

BuckAroo said: “This has to be the worst council I’ve ever known. Too many behind closed door decisions, no transparency at all.

“Yesterday I didn’t vote for Labour, that’s something I’ve never done in 40 odd years.

“This local Labour Party is not a party for the people of Coventry, it’s a party for its own self interest.

“Why didn’t the people of Coventry yesterday have a vote to see if we wanted to join the Greater Birmingham fiasco. But we had one for the PCC which is a total waste of money.

“So Ms Lucas you got what you did to your predecessor. ‘It’s tough at the top isn’t it’.”

Coventry City Council Leader Coun Ann Lucas at the 2016 election count at the Ricoh Arena

There were few readers leaping to the defence of Coun Lucas but others suggested little would change following the change of leader.

Localboy said: “You lot dancing on Ann Lucas’ political grave forget one simple fact.... Nothing has or will have changed. Osborne’s threats to council’s finances forced a combined authority on us all.”

Myviewsmatter said: “Political game playing yet again re egos and money - and as usual, it’s the local people at the mercy of these pseudo ‘people representatives’ who are the losers.”